Nunfa1
Member
My mistake, it is a 2 cylinder engine.
Ready to sail or fixer upper?
- Thread starter Nunfa1
- Start date
My mistake, it is a 2 cylinder engine.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
You and me both.
mick butterworth
Well-Known Member
when i went looking or a boat last year i decided to go for a fixer upper the hull is in great condition the rigging is ok, needed rewiring every thing was basic sails are in good condition no rot exept for the main hatch so a fixupper works for me. still surprised at the overall condition (no bodgups) mick
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Tranona
Well-Known Member
So, we were all set to go with the Kingfisher. I ring our local boatyard to enquire about a mooring and during the conversation he says he has a boat for sail that might suit us.
Anyone know what this is?
No keys yet so can't get inside but it has a 2 stroke Lister diesel inboard.
Don't recognise that - could be a one off or a home build on a work boat type hull. Lister will probably be air cooled and will shake your teeth out or deafen you - or both! Will go forever, though.
Kingfisher is better known and has a good pedigree. Designer and builder was a well regarded engineer and boats were considered advanced at the time of build. Seem to have stood up as well as any boat of that age.
ronsurf
Well-Known Member
Surely the guy selling it should know what it is?
Nunfa1
Member
Agreed, I think we may have found the one. Just need to think about the logistics of getting it home. Easiest thing is probably to sail it round from the Blackwater to the Crouch.
Starting to get a bit real.
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
Our first boat wasn't supposed to be a fixer-upper as she had a brand new engine and had recently been in commission. However we very quickly had to replace the through-hulls and standing rigging, and a few months later the sails and most of the running rigging. Shortly after that we replaced some of the instruments and the boom. It all added up.
This time around we went for a boat which is outwardly very much a fixer-upper. The interior is extremely tired but hopefully that will be costly in time more than money. Crucially she came with brand new sails and instruments, and a recent engine. We felt we were going into things with our eyes open this time round.
To the OP- add up the cost/value of the essentials and it should be easy enough to see which boats are worth buying. But beware of assuming that any equipment is of value just because it is there- it might be fit for the bin.
This time around we went for a boat which is outwardly very much a fixer-upper. The interior is extremely tired but hopefully that will be costly in time more than money. Crucially she came with brand new sails and instruments, and a recent engine. We felt we were going into things with our eyes open this time round.
To the OP- add up the cost/value of the essentials and it should be easy enough to see which boats are worth buying. But beware of assuming that any equipment is of value just because it is there- it might be fit for the bin.
trapezeartist
Well-Known Member
You should definitely go for the fixer-upper. The more people doing fixing-up, the better. How else are we ready-to sailors to find suitable boats to buy? 
gasdave
Well-Known Member
Prepare to be surprised - or very surprised - at how little could be achieved from £1K - £1.5K if it's the key components to sailing that need the work (sails, engine, hull/keel, rigging). At this end of the market your repair budget is a massive proportion of your purchase price and largely unrecoverable. You will spend a lot of time and money rebuilding something which can only ever pay you back in time spent afloat - eventually. By then you may have decided that you really want something else and it's "oh dear" time.
On the positive side, you will learn a huge amount and this can be invaluable. And you may derive huge satisfaction if you like getting your hands dirty and have the patience to persist.
Overall, my vote at the stage it sounds you are at would be to get something you can sail/use/enjoy with as little effort as possible. You will undoubtedly find aspects of it to "improve" or repair anyway.
On the positive side, you will learn a huge amount and this can be invaluable. And you may derive huge satisfaction if you like getting your hands dirty and have the patience to persist.
Overall, my vote at the stage it sounds you are at would be to get something you can sail/use/enjoy with as little effort as possible. You will undoubtedly find aspects of it to "improve" or repair anyway.
